"???"
Gu Lan was slightly stunned, looking Chen Shu up and down.
Did this guy really have something?
"Alright, I'm here mainly to talk to you about today's matters."
Chen Shu quickly said with a smile, "Minister Gu, please have a seat..."
Half an hour later,
"You are personally awarding me the Dragon Rider armband?"
A hint of surprise appeared in Chen Shu's eyes. He hadn't expected the head of the Dragon Riders to come in person.
"This is also to silence the public opinion!"
Gu Lan nodded and said, "The international public opinion is unfavorable to you now, and it's also affecting our official image."
"Okay!"
Chen Shu nodded, showing no intention of refusing.
"The awarding ceremony will be held at ten in the morning."
Gu Lan glanced at Chen Shu's hospital gown and said, "Your clothes are quite distinctive, but you still need to change into formal attire..."
"Big shot, mine are already for— *mumble mumble*..."
"Minister Gu, I'll take him to change clothes right away..."
Liu Feng decisively covered Chen Shu's mouth and dragged him into the bedroom beside them.
"..."
Gu Lan shook her head, a strange look in her eyes.
"Interesting teacher and student..."
She smiled and left the hotel, saying at the same time,
"I'll be waiting for you at the Dragon Slaying Platform!"
...
On the north bank of the Dragon River, a huge and magnificent platform stood by the shore, covered in dim black bloodstains, clearly showing its age.
This was also the world-famous Dragon Slaying Platform!
It wasn't a tourist attraction. In fact, few people would approach it.
Because it was located near the Dragon River, and ten thousand meters downstream was the entrance to the Dragon Abyss!
For thousands of years, as the most dangerous異空間 (otherworldly space), the Dragon Abyss had naturally erupted, and not just once.
But every time the strongholds within the otherworldly space fell, the old man would gather all the strong individuals in the country and launch bloody battles.
There were only two outcomes to these life-and-death battles: either quell the rebellion, or be annihilated...
And before departing, the old man would hold a mobilization ceremony on the Dragon Slaying Platform to boost the morale of the strong individuals.
Every mobilization ceremony was not only watched by Hua Guo but also by the entire world.
Once the Dragon Abyss fell, the fate of Blue Star could be imagined...
This also made the Dragon Slaying Platform quite famous worldwide.
Although the situation on Blue Star had been peaceful in recent centuries, and the strongholds in the Dragon Abyss had not fallen,
the Dragon Slaying Platform was not abandoned, but rather used as a platform to bestow honor, so that humanity would not forget the bloody history of resisting fierce beasts!
Whether it was the Town Spirit Army or the Dragon Riders, the Dragon Slaying Platform represented supreme honor, signifying that they could now stand shoulder to shoulder with their ancestors!
And today, the long-dormant Dragon Slaying Platform was finally reopened!
News quickly spread across the globe, and various national powers paid close attention, as this was a major event for Blue Star.
Strong individuals from all sides were shaken, vaguely guessing something, but still finding it somewhat unbelievable.
Various live broadcast equipment was set up around the Dragon Slaying Platform, transmitting the scene to every corner of the world.
"Dragon Slaying Platform..."
Gu Lan looked up at the platform ahead, a strange emotion in her eyes.
At only fifty years old, she naturally hadn't experienced the fall of the Dragon Abyss, nor had she had the chance to be personally summoned by the old man.
Every mobilization ceremony meant certain death, but it was the highest honor pursued by every Dragon Abyss warrior.
Gu Lan murmured, "In my lifetime, will I be able to experience it once..."
"Minister Gu, I hope I never have to see a mobilization ceremony..."
Qin Tian said softly from the side, as a mobilization ceremony meant countless casualties, which no one wished to see.
"Hmm? That's true..."
Gu Lan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "I misspoke..."
Today, there was no boisterous cheering or festive decorations around the Dragon Slaying Platform, only the heavy sense of history.
Beast tamers adventuring in Longjiang Province, upon receiving the news, arrived at a distance from the Dragon Slaying Platform ahead of time.
They did not approach, nor did they even make a sound, simply watching quietly.
At this moment,
Liu Feng, with Chen Shu in formal attire, arrived step by step near the Dragon Slaying Platform.
"Promise your teacher that you'll be a mute today, okay?"
Liu Feng turned to look, a hint of warning in his eyes.
The Dragon Slaying Platform held significant historical importance and was not a place for casual laughter.
"Hmm?"
Seeing that Chen Shu didn't respond, he couldn't help but glance over.
He saw Chen Shu standing there in a daze, as if his soul had been shaken.
The moment he saw the Dragon Slaying Platform, system options appeared before him again:
[Option One: Bow three times towards the platform ahead to pay respects to the heroic spirits of our ancestors. Reward: Skill Book 'Elemental Counter']
[Option Two: Remain indifferent and unmoving. Reward: Large amount of beast taming power]
Chen Shu's gaze was deep as he looked at the dark bloodstains on the Dragon Slaying Platform.
After a moment, he closed his eyes and slowly bowed.
The instant he bowed the first time, he faintly heard human shouts, filled with unyielding spirit and grandeur.
As he bowed a second time, he seemed to hear the roars of contracted spirits and fierce beasts, locked in combat.
And as he bowed a third time, he heard the wails of countless dragon-like fierce beasts...
In a single instant, the battlefield of that year seemed to replay in his mind...
"Huh?!"
For a moment, the others looked over, surprised that Chen Shu would make such a move.
Although it wasn't a kowtow, it already demonstrated the respect of the "fierce bandit."
Liu Feng's eyes showed no surprise, as if he had expected it.
The current Chen Shu might not possess the sacrificial spirit of the ancestors, but it didn't prevent him from having deep respect for them in his heart.
"Good!"
Gu Lan, standing below the platform, nodded with admiration in her eyes.
Human beast tamers might not respect heaven and earth, but they must respect the ancestors who sacrificed for future generations!
"Teacher..."
Chen Shu looked towards the platform ahead, still feeling a tremor and shock in his heart.
He sighed deeply. This Dragon Slaying Platform, merely for suppressing the Dragon Abyss and holding mobilization ceremonies, already appeared so solemn.
What kind of bloody struggle did humanity undertake during the early stages of spiritual energy recovery a thousand years ago?
Liu Feng smiled slightly and said,
"Alright, go on!"
"I..."
Chen Shu, usually decisive, appeared somewhat hesitant.
Did he truly have the right to be honored on the Dragon Slaying Platform...
Whether it was eradicating the Night Organization, striking down the Church of Salvation, or even killing fierce beasts from otherworldly spaces,
he had actually never acted for the greater good, but merely to improve himself, or to save his loved ones and friends.
Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, he had made countless contributions, even being called a hero!
But only Chen Shu knew that he lacked a sense of greater good in his heart, and his ideological awareness was even inferior to a newly recruited Town Spirit Army soldier...
"Don't doubt yourself!"
Liu Feng placed his broad hand on Chen Shu's shoulder and said in a deep voice,
"You are qualified, and besides, this is also to clarify the international public opinion."
After a long while, Chen Shu nodded.
Under the gaze of everyone, he walked step by step towards the Dragon Slaying Platform...